Electric signal for railways.



E/z'inesses:

PATENTED OUT. 24;, 1905.

EH. GRAY.

ELECTRIC SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED MARI], 1905.

FREDERICK H. GRAY, OF LEAVENl/VORTH, KANSAS.

IELECTRlC SIGNAL FOR RAlLWAYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed March '7, 1905. Serial No. 248,858.

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. GRAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leavenworth, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Signals for Railways, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to electric signals for railways, and is intended for use in block sys tems, railway crossings, curves, bridges, &c. The signals may be audible or visual and arranged, for instance, in the form of semaphores or electric lights.

One of my objects is to dispense with all trolley-operated switches, so that a car may enter and leave a block at full speed, as there are no switch-levers or other protruding parts to be struck by the trolley-wheel, and thus become worn out or disabled.

Another object is to arrange the signal-controlling mechanism in such a way that after a car enters a block and thus automatically sets the signals the latter will remain set until said car leaves the block, even though its trolleypole should break or it should otherwise become disabled, as the circuit connecting the signals is independent of the path through the car leading from the trolley-wire to the track.

A further object is to arrange the controlling mechanism in such a manner that current will be utilized only when the signals are set.

In the accompanying drawing, which shows a diagrammatic view of the invention, 1 designates a dynamo or other source of electrical energy. 2 designates a continuous-feed conductor leading from the positive pole of said dynamo the entire length of the road or a portion thereof and provided with branch wires 3, communicating with two sections 4: of a main supply-conductor at the opposite ends of a block, as shown in the drawing.

5, 6, and 7 designate a sense of intermediate supply-conductors, conductors 5 and 7 being preferably shorter than conductor 6.

8 designates an auxiliary supply-conductor connected at its ends to supply-conductors 4. and 6, respectively, for the purpose of con ducting current from the former to the latter to operate the car until its trolley-wheel A reaches conductor 7. I

A signal-setting circuit connected at its opposite ends to conductor 8 and a return-conductor B is established and consists of a slgnal-setting magnet 9 in circuit with conductor 6; circuit-wire 10, connected at its opposite ends to conductor 8, and an armature 11, normally held away from magnet 9 and its contactpoint 12 by a spring 11; circuit-wire 10", connected at its opposite ends to contact-point 12 and a contact-point13, which latter forms part of a circuit-opener 14:, comprising said point and an armature 15, which latter is normally in contact with point 13; a circuit-wire 10, extending the length of the block and connected at its opposite ends to armature l5 and a contact-point 16; a set of signals 17, arranged at each end of the block and in circuit with wire 10"; a circuit-opener 18, comprising contactpoint 16 and an armature 19, which latter is normally in contact with said point 16, and a circuit-wire 20, connected at its opposite ends to armature l9 and the return-conductor B, thus completing said signal-setting circuit.

C designates asignal-restoring circuit at one end of the block, consisting of a circuit-wire 21, connected at its ends to conductors 4t and 7, and a signal-restoring magnet 22 in circuit with wire 21 and arranged adjacent to armature 19.

D designates a signal-restoring circuit arranged at the opposite end of the block, consisting of a circuit-wire 23, connected at its ends to conductors 5 and 8, and a signal-restoring magnet 24: in circuit with wire 23 and arranged adjacent to one end of armature 15.

When a car traveling in the direction of arrow a enters the block and establishes in the usual manner a current between supply-conductor 6 and return-conductor B, the signal setting magnet 9 will be energized and draw armature 11 into contact with point 12, and thus provide a pathway for a portion of said current through the signal-setting circuit, which current will hold the signals set until trolley-wheel A leaves conductor 6 and con tacts with conductor 7. l/Vhen this occurs, part of the current will pass through the signal-restoring circuit C and energize magnet 22, causing it to draw armature 19 out of contact with point 16, and thus restore the signals 17. The instant the trolley-wheel leaves conductor 7 and contacts with conductor 4: the signal-restoring magnet 22 is deenergized and permits armature 19 to contact with point 16. A car passing in the opposite direction to that indicated. by arrow a will establish a current through the signal-setting circuit, as above described, and restore the signals when said trolley wheel contacts with conductor 5. When this. occurs, a current through the signal-restoring circuit Dis established, which.

energizes the signal-restoring magnet 24, causing it to draw armature 15 out of contact with point 13, and thus restore the signals.

When either of the armatures 15 19 are attracted by their magnets, the signal-setting magnet 9 becomes deenergized and permits spring l1 to draw armature 11 out of contact with said magnet 9 and point 12.

Should the car become disabled after entering the block and cease to maintain a circuit from conductor 6 to conductor B, a current will be maintained from conductor 4: to con ductor B through the auxiliary supply-conductor 8 and the signal-setting circuit, which will hold the signals at danger.

From the above description it is apparent that I have produced a signal containing but few parts which may be inclosed and protected from the weather, so that their operation will not be affected by the latter, which utilizes current only when the signals are set, and has but few movable parts to wear out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric signal for railways, the combination of a continuous-feed conductor connected with a source of electrical energy, a main supply-conductor terminating at each end of a block for conveying current to a car, intermediate supply-conductors arranged between the ends of said main supply-conductor for conveying current to said car, the ends of said main and intermediate conductors being electrically disconnected, a return-conductor, a signal-setting'circuit communicating With said return-conductor and normally disconnected from the main supply-conductor, means for automatically connecting said signal-setting circuit with the main supply-conductor when the car is in circuit with one of the intermediate conductors, and a signal-restoring circuit communicating at its opposite ends with the main supply-conductor and another of the intermediate conductors, which automatically interrupts the signal-setting circuit when the car is in circuit with the last-mentioned intermediate conductor.

2. In an electric signal for railways, the combination of a continuous-feed conductor connected with a source of electrical energy, a main supply-conductor terminating at each end of a block for conveying current to a car, intermediate supply-conductors arranged between the ends of said main SQpply-CODClHCtOP for conveying current to said car, the ends of said main and intermediate conductors being electrically disconnected, a return-conductor, a signal-setting circuit communicating with said return-conductor and normally disconnected from the main supply-00nd uctor, means for automatically connecting said signal-setting circuit with the main supply-conductor When the car is in circuit with one of the intermediate conductors, and asignal-restoring circuit at each end of the block communicating at their opposite ends with the main supply-conductor and two of the intermediate conductors.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK H. GRAY.

Witnesses:

F. G. FISCHER, R. E. HAMILTON. 

